Lennon/McCartney

Lennon/McCartney

John Lennon and Paul McCartney are known today as one of the most powerful song-writing teams ever to have lived. A few of their chart-topping hits include “With a Little Help from my Friends,” “Ticket to Ride,” “She Loves You,” “Penny Lane,” and, “A Hard Day’s Night.” The Beatles’ music has shaped the world and was a major part of the revolution that occurred in the ’60s. None of that would have been possible without the talent of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
John Lennon first picked up a guitar at the age of 17. He had aspirations to be famous one day and he was confident that these goals would be achieved. He attended the Liverpool College of Art, but dropped out before he graduated. There, he met his future wife Cynthia Powell in a lettering class. He and his friend, Eric Griffiths, took guitar classes but soon quit. After learning basic chords from his mother, John started playing and writing. His first completed song was called, “Hello, Little Girl,” written at the age of 18.
Paul McCartney was raised around music. His father was a trumpet player and pianist, and encouraged Paul to pursue music. Paul learned to play the acoustic guitar and wrote his first song, “I Lost my Little Girl.” He later learned to play the piano, as well, and wrote, “When I’m Sixty-Four.”
Lennon still wanted to pursue music, so he started the Quarrymen, his first band. He met Paul McCartney at a Quarrymen concert and asked him to join the band. At Paul’s insistence, George Harrison, a young guitarist, who wasn’t yet 18, joined the band. Stuart Sutcliffe also joined as a bassist. The Quarrymen soon changed their name to The Beatles. After two trips to Hamburg, Germany, Ringo Starr, drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, joined the Beatles.
Most of the Beatles’ songs were written by either Lennon, McCartney, or Lennon and McCartney. Paul and John wrote together from 1958-1969. Early on, their songs were very pop-oriented. But...